Williams, Samuel Tankersley “Hanging Sam”, born 25-08-1897 in Denton, Texas, 
United States. Samuel attended the schools of Denton, and graduated from Denton High School in 1916. 14–15 In May 1916, he enlisted as a private in the Texas Army National Guard 
.: He took part in the expedition against Pancho Villa, 
advancing to corporal and sergeant in 1917. Having claimed an 1896 date of birth in order to meet the minimum age for a commission, In May 1917 Williams began the officers training course at Camp Bullis, Leon Springs, Texas. 
He received his commission in August 1917, four months after the American entry into World War I, and was appointed a second lieutenant in the Infantry Branch of the Officer Reserve Corps.
From 1917 to 1919, Williams served with the 359th Infantry Regiment, part of the 90th Division, 
as part of the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) 
on the Western Front. He took part in offensives including the Battle of Saint-Mihiel, and the Meuse–Argonne offensive, 
the largest battle in the history of the United States Army, and in the Toul Sector, receiving a serious wound while serving as commander of Company I of the regiment’s 3rd Battalion.
After the war ended on 11-11-1918, he remained in the army and was assigned to the 30th Infantry Regiment. 
On 18-08- 1940, as the United States was preparing for World War II, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor 
and the subsequent German declaration of war against the United States in December 1941 officially brought the country into World War II. Williams was promoted to Colonel in the Army of the United States (AUS) on 07-08-1942. By 1943, he was the commanding officer (CO) of the 378th Infantry Regiment, part of the 95th Infantry Division, 
Williams was in command of the 378th Infantry 
at Camp Swift, 
Texas when a member of the organization was tried for the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl. Williams was a member of the court-martial, and growing annoyed with the drawn-out proceedings, suggested that the trial ought to be ended quickly, since the defendant’s guilt was not in doubt and he deserved execution by hanging. The nickname “Hanging Sam” attached to him as a result, and remained with him for the rest of his career.
Williams was subsequently promoted to the rank of Brigadier General (AUS) on 22-03-1943, and named as the Assistant Division Commander (ADC) of the 90th “Tough Ombres” Infantry Division, the organization with which he had served in during World War I Reactivated for World War II, the 90th Division took part in Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Northern France, in June 1944. 
The 90th Infantry Division landed at Utah Beach on D-Day+1 (7 June 1944, a day after the initial invasion). While en route to their landing site, Williams and numerous 90th Division soldiers were on board the transport ship Susan B. Anthony 
when it struck a mine. Though he did not know how to swim, Williams supervised the evacuation of the wounded and transfer of soldiers to rescue craft, and then on to Utah Beach. He risked his life to venture below deck, overcoming smoke and darkness to ensure that everyone had been evacuated. He was the last one to leave the ship, which was abandoned and sank. All 2,689 people aboard were saved, which the Guinness Book of World Records lists as the largest rescue of people without loss of life. Williams received the Soldier’s Medal 
for his actions.
Shortly after the 90th Infantry Division began its part in the Normandy invasion, Major General Joseph Lawton Collins, 
the VII Corps commander, decided that the unit was not performing satisfactorily in combat. As a result, he relieved Brigadier General Jay Ward MacKelvie, 
the division commander, and two regimental commanders. MacKelvie’s successor, Major General Eugene Manuel Landrum, 
was shortly afterwards involved in a verbal altercation with Williams and requested Williams’ reduction in rank from Brigadier General to Colonel and reassignment to a staff position. By then, the 90th Division was part of the VIII Corps, and the corps commander, Major General Troy oustan Middleton, 
concurred with Landrum’s request, which was carried out.
After his reduction in rank, Major General Henry Terrell Jr., 
who was acquainted with Williams from Terrell’s time as commander of the 90th Division from 1942 to 1943, requested Williams as Terrell’s Training and Operations officer, G-3 for XXII Corps. In this role, Williams planned and oversaw execution of missions in the European Theater of Operations (ETO). 
In the fall of 1944, after Williams had been reduced in rank, the recommendation to award him the Silver Star 
was approved. He received the award for heroism on 15-06-1944, when he assisted in maneuvering and positioning lead units of the 90th Division during an assault on Gourbesville. Near the end of the war, Williams served as the Chief of Staff of XXII Corps. 
In 1946, a year after the war ended, Williams was appointed commander of the 26th Infantry Regiment in West Germany, also serving as acting chief of staff, assistant division commander, and commander of the 1st Infantry Division 
on several occasions. From 1955 until his 1960 retirement, Williams commanded Military Assistance and Advisory Group – Vietnam, the first officer assigned to this position after its predecessor unit, Military Assistance Advisory Group—Indochina was reorganized. In this role, Williams was responsible for training and modernizing the Republic of Vietnam Military Forces.
He received two waivers to serve in Vietnam past his mandatory retirement date as the result of the positive relationship he had fostered with South Vietnamese authorities, who requested to continue working with him.
Death and burial ground of Williams, Samuel Tankersley, “Hanging Sam”.
In his retirement, Williams lived in San Antonio, Texas. Samuel Williams died there on 26-04-1984, at the age of 86, and was buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Section Ai, site 646.
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